Several documentary projects have explored the controversial years of Spain’s former king, digging into the private dramas behind the public figure. Series like The Bourbons: A Royal Family (Atresplayer Premium) and Save the King (HBO Max) have found audiences, yet filmmaker Javier Olivares — best known for El Ministerio del Tiempo — notes that balancing a public life with family life remains exceptionally challenging when the subject is a living legend. The Sky Show Time documentary Juan Carlos, the Fall of the King, released on Monday, May 22, adds another layer. This four-part investigation, produced with German involvement, features a broad cast of voices including Spanish and international journalists, judges, and former government officials. A standout segment centers on Corinna Larsen, whose long association with the former monarch is examined in depth through an extensive interview. The documentary promises revealing images and accounts of the years they spent together, including personal artifacts she reportedly safeguarded.
The narrative unfolds with a soap opera-like pace. It charts a path from polished royal image to tense political intrigue, tracing how finance and power intersect with personal decisions. A seasoned journalist describes it as carrying the hallmarks of a Shakespearean tragedy where power, pain, money, desire, and history collide without mercy. The program also revisits the era of Ana Romero, a journalist who discusses the retired king, his spouse, and their family circle. In a revealing moment, Felipe openly questions whether participation in certain events is still possible under the evolving pressures of royal life.
Voices supporting the king’s legacy appear alongside those offering sharp critiques. A former banker argues that the country owes much to the monarch for stabilizing and guiding the transition to democracy, while a former Spanish president suggests the decisive moments of the 23-F coup would have been harder to manage without the king’s influence. The series frames Juan Carlos as a pivotal figure in Spain’s democratic evolution, while acknowledging the complexities the monarchy faced in later years.
Yet the public image of the king began to shift following a high-profile Botswana hunting trip in April 2012. Occurring amid a deepening economic crisis, the incident produced stark images that altered public perception. The documentary includes remarks from a former royal communications director detailing how that crisis was handled, underscoring how one controversial episode could reshape a king’s standing. The investigation also brings to light the emergence of a figure like Corinna Larsen, whose experiences and relationship with the monarch are explored in substantial depth. The documentary further notes that Larsen’s family ties and personal history intersected with heightened scrutiny of royal finances and conduct.
Corinna, about to become queen
Corinna Larsen speaks openly about the perception of her influence and the way photographs from the Botswana trip were managed. A journalist on the project describes her as a figure who, in the public eye, carried a strong aura of sovereignty. The film also probes the emotional and political ramifications of the couple’s separation in 2010, including reported threats and a broader concern about sensitive information stored abroad. A former commissioner involved in royal security confirms the climate of mistrust surrounding those years.
The drama intensifies as new, secret photographs of Juan Carlos and Corinna surface. A collaboration between Sky and NBC Universal unveils fresh images detailing a relationship described by some insiders as highly toxic. The documentary traces this period through international travel and a review of the monarch’s financial affairs, questioning alleged sources of wealth and potential entanglements with corruption cases. The programme positions these discoveries within a larger pattern of scrutiny that frames the later years of the monarchy and the ongoing debate over accountability and transparency.
Alongside Corinna Larsen, the series revisits other women associated with the later years of the reign. It recalls the cases of Barbara Rey and Sandra Mozarowsky, the latter of whom died at a young age under circumstances the program highlights. A British journalist offers a candid retrospective from 1992, painting a vivid portrait of how certain figures perceived the king. The investigative team, including Beetz, von Petersdorff, Tschurtschenthaler, and Barbadillo, pursues leads across major cities such as London, Monaco, Geneva, Abu Dhabi, and New York. They explore how Juan Carlos might have accrued wealth, examine alleged lucrative networks, and scrutinize claims of involvement in corruption, all while capturing the tense atmosphere of an ongoing royal inquiry.